Development Associate
Long Beach Opera
Title: Development Associate
Reports to: Director of Development
Status: Full-time, non-exempt
About Long Beach Opera: Founded in 1979, Long Beach Opera was the first major opera company in the metropolitan Los Angeles/Orange County region. LBO’s essential purpose is to advance the frontiers of opera in both repertory and production style. Long Beach Opera’s artistic vision is to present unconventional works often neglected by more mainstream opera companies. LBO presents selections from opera’s earliest beginning to modern avant-garde compositions, emphasizing their theatrical and musical relevance to our time. Long Beach Opera is well-known for its world, American, and West Coast premiers of new and rare operas. The company has a repertoire of more than 100 works. LBO’s success helped provide the stimulus for the subsequent founding of other opera companies in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Summary: Working closely with the Director of Development, the Development Associate will be responsible for the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities associated with building a sustainable annual fund ($1 to $5000), underwriting/sponsorship program, foundation, corporate, and government grants program.
Opportunity: This is an excellent opportunity for an individual looking to grow their fundraising experience in a creative, vibrant arts organization. Working within this growing development program, this position will provide the right candidate with regular opportunities to touch all aspects of the fund development process.
Principle Responsibilities:
Grant Writing
• Research and analyze grant-making organizations to identify likely funding sources for specific projects and programs.
• Compile, write, and/or edit grant applications in accordance with each grant-making organization’s guidelines and format, exhibiting strong expository writing skills and a high-level command of grammar and spelling.
• Assist in the process of supplying progress reports when required by grant-making organizations that have funded a project or program.
• Work with finance to gather information necessary to report to institutional funders on current grant programs
• Track statistics relevant to development and provide department with written materials necessary for donor stewardship
• Maintains LBO’s profile on the California Cultural Data Project and Guidestar
Planning, Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship
• Develop and implement strategies for annual-fund donor acquisition, campaigns, renewal and upgrades, and donor stewardship
• Assist Director of Development with donor relations and implementing donor cultivation strategies, including but not limited to contacting donors to schedule meetings, preparing briefing documents and donor reports, and tracking all steps in building donor relationships
• Coordinate and prepare the organization’s appeals, cultivation, and stewardship communication
Prospect Research and Donor Recognition
• Conduct individual, corporate, and foundation research reports from external and internal sources; develop donor and prospect profiles and recommended approach to initiate and cultivate a potential relationship.
Compensation and benefits:
This is an hourly, non-exempt position. Benefits and compensation will be based on compensation history, breadth of experience and fit with the knowledge, skills and abilities described in this position description.
To apply: To apply: Please submit your materials using the link below https://www.hirebridge.com/v3/application/applink.aspx?cid=6720&jid=260842
Qualifications and Experience:
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in development, sales, marketing, communications, , or equivalent
• Working knowledge of the fund development process and concepts
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills
• Must be comfortable and productive in a fast-paced, team, results oriented environment while being responsible for attaining own annual performance goals
• Must be articulate and engaging, possessing interpersonal skills that can engage and be receptive to donor interest and perspectives
• Must be well-organized and able to handle details while pursuing overall goals; must be able to adapt quickly to a new organization
• Self-starter, and quickly create a positive network of relationships out in the field.
• Ability to work independently as well as a member of a team
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and experience with development data base management required
• Passion for the Arts and LBO’s mission
